Liz Thompson's blog

Blogging Out Hunger: So, I Got Stop & Shop To Do Their Part, Now It's Your Turn!!!

2008-12-30T10:18:36-06:00

Well, I asked my friends at Stop & Shop if they would like to help sponsor This Full House with a call out for donations in support of Blogging Out Hunger and they seemed to feel that it's, you know, a pretty good idea.

Aaaand, here's the good part, there's a way you (yes, YOU!) oh, savvy Internets, can help.

How?

[grin]

Why, by doing what you do best...of course!!!

Just so you know, Stop & Shop is actually making a pretty significant donation to the New Jersey Food Bank this holiday season. Its Food For Friends
campaign raised more than $1 million dollars which is being distributed
to 300 local hunger relief organizations throughout the Northeast --
the New Jersey Food bank receives about $74,500.

Stop & Shop gets the value of supporting bloggers (like, helping to make the New Jersey Moms Blog Launch Party a great success and sponsoring this Thanksgiving giveaway) and they're willing to help a Mommyblogger out this time, too.

How?

By helping me to continue to spread the word about the desperate need
that The Community Food Bank of New Jersey is in due to the increased demands being put on New Jersey food pantries.

Aaaand?

Here's where you (yes, YOU!) come in. All you have to do is a leave a
comment on the original blog post over at This Full House. Like, telling us your plan on dealing with this
cuh-ray-zee holiday week, or something as simple as, you know, what's
for dinner.

Stop & Shop will donate $1.00 for each comment and are more than ready to write a check (for up to $300.00) to The Community Food Bank of New Jersey!!!

As of today, we've raised $116 -- thank you if you've already visited with us and left a comment -- but, I'm turning to BlogHer for help in reaching my goal of $300.

Why?

Because, that's what BlogHers do best.

I know, 300 comments (just who do I think I am, Dooce)
it's a tall order, so I hope you'll consider joining me in spreading some much needed mojo across the Internets, this week!

Why?

Because nice matters, hunger sucks and Stop & Shop knows we care...DAMMIT!!!

Countdown To Stress-free Holiday Shopping: Beware the Christmas Creepies!

2006-10-25T16:38:43-05:00

[img_assist|fid=2116|thumb=1|alt=christmascreepies]
Just so you know, it's official - 60 SHOPPING DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS! - there are exactly 9 weekends left before one of the biggest gift-giving days celebrated on the entire planet.

Hey...don't curse the messenger...I'm just sayin' - and you thought Halloween was the scariest time of the year - better watch out for the Christmas Creep!

Heck, Halloween is just around the corner and I am so NOT ready!

I'm glad it's not just me, either.

Laurie is also reflecting on a last-minute Halloween shopping trip, one blank day this week, that was nearly foiled by the Chiristmas Creep:

One major retailer had already compressed the Halloween stuff into one aisle to make room for wrapping paper and ornaments. The twenty families searching through the costume racks weren't feeling especially Christmasy. Argh....couldn't the store have delayed the Christmas creep by one more day?

What is it?

The trend began about three years ago, but more retailers are joining in, said Britt Beemer, chairman of America's Research Group, a consumer behavior marketing firm in Charleston, S.C.

It's a phenomenon called "Christmas creep," according to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Hoping to catch early shoppers, retailers are extending their all-important holiday shopping season, which accounts for 25 percent to 40 percent of the year's sales.

[source]

So, what retailers are saying is that - by getting a jump on early sales and what people are buying - they can stock up and market items as "hot" and/or "must have" products.

Are you buying this stuff?

Teresa Ciulla posts in Entrepeneur Daily a recent survey by the National Retail Federation (NRF) confirms that 40 percent of consumers start shopping before Halloween and also feels a bit bugged by the rush:

Year-round shopping? If I start seeing Easter Bunnies and American flags for sale in January, I just may sceam. But if you're a smart retailer, you'll have your holiday goods out long before I think you should.

In her Shopaholic Diaries, Cherie confesses about her dismay over commercialism - as October is the new December - and how she just wants it all to stop, at least until AFTER Thanksgiving:

One of my biggest pet peeves is the stores all bringing out the holiday decorations before Thanksgiving...and now it's even before Halloween. I don't really mind them doing it before Halloween that much because it's also a commercialized holiday, but it just kills me that they do it before Thanksgiving and just skims over that holiday.

Teresa and Cherie make a really interesting point here, I think, and - although, I believe Thanksgiving is anything but "simple" in my house - having left stores frazzled and empty-handed on numerous occasions, the rush in seasonal displays does make me wonder whether or not bloggers feel it's worth all the creepy effort -- are consumers growing tired of commercialism?

Stephanie blogs - Stop the Ride (called consumer debt) - about how she believes it's easy to get caught up on the commercialism, especially if you have kids, and abides by a simple strategy for parents to approach Christmas called, "The Gift of Four":

It is a simple approach that has worked well for us. Only buy your kids four gifts. Buy them something:

1. they want
2. they need
3. that is practical
4. to help them grow spiritually.

Stephanie's approach resonated with me - she also has four kids to buy for at Christmas - and I really think that her idea is one that would work very well for my family and goes onto outline the exact reasons why:

...this plan helps to limit the commercialism and greediness for stuff that comes with the holidays. The fun and excitement are still there without the overload that comes from excess. The kids value and treasure the four gifts that they get. They don't get lost in a pile of stuff.

Most holiday and event planning experts also agree that having a plan - especially, one that works for you - and making (as well as sticking to) lists helps shoppers maintain a budget and steer clear of stress.

Avoiding the Christmas Creep, not so much.

e.Premium.net - a home-based and online business blog - suggests there are signs that the Christmas Creep really does exist:

Every year I start to see the same signs around the end of September/beginning of October and this year is no different:

â€¢ My wholesale search engines start to serve noticeably more search results each day.

â€¢ My wholesale directory sites start to attract more visitors and members.

â€¢ I start getting more and more emails with wholesale-related questions.

â€¢ General online activity increases as buyers start to think about purchasing Christmas presents and sellers start to offer suitable purchase options.

On the other hand, the article continues to point out the reasons why it would behoove your business to consider sticking with the current calendar month and avoiding the buzz:

And if you are keen to get started right away, forget about Christmas for a bit and concentrate on Halloween! Fancy dress is getting bigger and bigger in the UK and we have access to a huge fancy dress costume supplier with superb costumes from just a few pounds each! Last year I needed a fancy dress costume for Halloween and left it until the last minute to order and ended up really struggling to find something suitable as everywhere had sold out. No doubt demand will be just as great this year so why not take advantage of it?

Doing some last-minute Halloween shopping today - and seriously considering trying to convince my five-year-old not all witches wore hats, a dress, striped stockings or carried broomsticks...just look at Mommy! - I was pleasantly surprised to find that my local K-mart had tons (read: more than one aisle) of Halloween stuff left. I was also able to pick up treats for the classroom parties and snack for Saturday's soccer game.

At a 40% discount - BOOYAH! - goes to show you can get by on the fly, at least some of the time.

Now, I'm done!

This year, however - with my husband working longer hours, the kids schedules being what they are and caring for ill parents - I would love to be able to plan my holidays a little better. But, I still can't see myself getting into it - until after Thanksgiving.

Another business taking advantage of invoking the holiday spirit is Red Nose Lighting:

[img_assist|fid=2120|thumb=1|alt=creepychristmascouple]
LOVE Christmas?

But hate decorating?

Let our professionals design and install, service, take down, and store you lighting display!

All of the LOVE, none of the labor!

I found their link over at the AAA Aardvark Marketing Blog - I think their tagline, "the first name in marketing," is pretty freakin' ingenious - with this comment that pretty much matches my sentiment:

Wow. Welcome to America, where you can pay someone to do (almost) anything, including Griswolding your house into a display that will either make your neighbors turn green with jealousy or hate you for the near-daylight level of illumination and the traffic jam you've created with your custom-created winter wonderland (that you saved $50 on with the Clipper Magazine ad).

Some people have too much money.

Exactly!

I'm not against Griswolding your house for Christmas - a ritual my husband likes to do after a long, hard and thankless day at work on Black Friday! - but, for each BlogHer who doesn't have the time (not to mention the money) for such shiny things, there is someone who is blogging one cool holiday idea or another!

Blogs with kick-ass taglines, too!

Busy Mom - "better parenting through coffee," Gawd...but, I've been in love with this woman since the earliest of all my blogging years - posts about her evolution of Christmas shopping and a link to this really cool website:

[img_assist|fid=2124|thumb=1|alt=organizedchristmas]
Organized Christmas

Our mission: to help you get ready for the holiday season. Whether you plan for the holidays year-round or at the last minute, we'll help you get organized for a stress-free holiday.

Try one of our Christmas organizing plans, browse ideas for gifts and crafts, print free gift tags and planner forms or join in on the message boards.

We're glad you're here!

Today's tip:

Wrap and Mail Center!

Assemble a "wrap and mail center" before you begin buying holiday gifts. Collect gift wrap, ribbons and bows, gift tags, pens, scissors, tape and mailing boxes. Store them together on a closet shelf, or in an underbed storage container. A wrap and mail center makes ite easy to wrap gifts as soon as they are purchased. No more late-night wrap sessions on December 24!

Nope, perhaps there's no avoiding the Christmas Creep, but - by visiting with BlogHers throughout the next couple of months and posting some "stress-free holiday shopping" recommendations - at least we can make 'em look like one of the cool kids!

Are you ready for the holidays - I'll be watching - 'cause now we're talking creepy, yes!?!
------------------------------------------------------------
Contributing Editor Elizabeth Thompson also writes for the eZine, "The Imperfect Parent."

[image source: Christmas Mobile Java Games]

Video Games Gone Bad: Do You Know What Your Children Are Playing?

2006-10-23T19:48:28-05:00

[img_assist|fid=2100|thumb=1|alt=videogamers]
With three birthdays - not to mention Christmas - just around the corner at my house, I was interested to read the release of PC Magazine's list of the 10 worst games
of all time and was more than relieved to learn that we didn't own any of them (yet!?!) and perhaps even a little surprised.

Apparently, I am NOT the only person on the fence about what video games to buy for my kids, this year.

It seems playing Nintendo, Xbox or Playstation (when chosen carefully and played on the proper platform) may not be as bad as we were lead to believe, as the blogosphere begins to understand scientists' new vision of video games:

The Federation of American Scientists says that video games can redefine education. The theory is that games teach skills that employers want: analytical thinking, team building, multitasking and problem-solving under duress.

[Blogtip: Blogging Baby]

Yes, but - haven't they heard? - how've we been told, time and time again, video games make our kids violent; don't they?

Sara Gilbert blogged about how she thought - as most parents early on do - her children would never own a video game system. That is, until Microsoft began marketing Xbox 360 to preschoolers through 'Pinata' cartoons and admits that their campaign is slowly beginning to grow on her, too:

It's really such a brilliant strategy. Children are ever so perceptible to brands at the ages of three and four, and ever so much cuter when they beg for things. You can just feel my "I nevers" melting away like so many pieces of caramel inside one of the pinata characters in the new Xbox 360 game, now can't you? I can't say I'm pleased. But secretly, quietly.

If you're seriously looking into investing in a gaming system, the general consensus is that there are two basic rules of thumb - following Gadzooki's recipe for saving $1,000 per video game system:

1. Buy your system one year after its release. In doing this you set YOUR OWN video game cycle.

2. Never buy a game over $20. Most games get this low pretty quickly and rarely take more than one year on the market.

Pretty simple, but utterly successful. It allows you to get more game for your buck.

So start gaming to your own drum-beat and youâ€™ll realize thereâ€™s no need to play by the industryâ€™s rules anymore.

The Girl Gamer lists five reasons why she does NOT want to be one of the cool kids in line to buy Nintendo Wii or PS3 next month:

1. First year games are usually last generation quality:

Graphics are usually last gen and the games could have easily been played on the previous system, but if you wait about a year and then suddenly the games seem to get better.

2. Lack of gaming choices:

To fully enjoy a system you need to be able to pick the game types you want and when a system only has 10 games available on the launch day, the selection is slim at best.

3. Glitches:

Xbox 360 had systems that didnâ€™t turn on, or have video feed to the TV, Nintendo DS had hinges that broke with little or no effort, Xbox had a power cord that could catch on fire and now the PS3 had problems with overheating just before launch.

4. Exclusives:

Nintendo 64 owners know what I mean â€“ Final Fantasy jumped ship to Playstation and left Nintendo fans crying into their cartridge slots.

5. Lack of Units:

Every new system not starting with the name Nintendo loves to screw with us gamers by hyping their systems and then not producing enough units for the public to buy, which means gamers either wait in line at Best Buy in a sleeping bag overnight or pay double or even triple the
price on Ebay to get the system right away.

Things to look for when buying kid-safe videos:

Consider the ratings:

[img_assist|fid=2084|thumb=1|alt=earlychildhoodrating]

Early Childhood (3 years and up)

[img_assist|fid=2088|thumb=1|alt=everyonerating]

Everyone (kids - Adults)

[img_assist|fid=2092|thumb=1|alt=teenrating]

Teens (13 years and up)

The American Academy of Pediatrics cautions that video game ratings are not always accurate.

Check the content and consult guides to determine if the contect reflects what you feel is appropriate for your child:

Children's Technology Review

Game Critics

Lion and Lamb Project

Review Corner

[source]

My seven-year-old son idolizes his uncle (my twin brother and only sibling) who is currently serving in the Army National Guard and is very much into...well...basically, anything to do with the military. Although I don't think of his wearing fatigues and collecting army figures as anything more than a fascination, that doesn't mean that my husband and I appreciated his drawing of, "Sniper Bear!"

Neither did his teacher.

I can't say that I blame my son for being upset that his teddy bear - one that was supposed
to represent someone my son admired and best reflected who he aspires to be - did NOT make it onto the bulletin board, either.

It's confusing.

Taking a closer look at his bear, we decided to ditch the rifle, cut off the rocket launcher strapped to his back, erase his dark eyebrows, make his face look a little less menacing and perhaps changing his name to "Army Bear" would better reflect my son's non-violent nature.

I hope.

There are moments, I admit, when I allow my child to play video games - sometimes for hours and especially when he's got a friend staying over - and perhaps not consider the negative effects, as much.

Or, when his father comes home late at night and spends a few precious moments before bedtime battling Darth Vader and the evil empires of Ratchet and Crank, with "the boy."

Don't get me wrong - living in a house where the estrogen levels far outweigh that of the testosterone - it isn't so much an argument against gender as it is merely a question of male-bonding.

There's a fair amount of game play on both sides of the gene pool (trust me!) and there's one video game that perhaps most (if not all) 'tweens and teens can relate to, but is taking quite a bit of heat from gaming parents - have you heard of, "The Bully Game?"

Kate over at Prevention Works describes it this way:

The new game focuses on a boy named Jimmy and his first day at a reform school (he's been expelled from every other school he's attended). He encounters all kinds of cliques, from jocks to nerds to dropouts. In the game, Jimmy has the opportunity to defend the nerds, sometimes with
baseball bats, other times with slingshotsâ€”or he can walk away without fighting.

And - in light of the recent school shootings - questions the gamers objective:

The creators at Rockstar games defend Bully by saying that he's a kid whom weâ€™ve all been at one
time. He gets bullied and he bullies others, which is common in real life at school. However, in
school, if you defend a friend with a baseball bat you tend to get in serious trouble. It begs
the question: what are we teaching our children if we condone violent, bullying games? Are we
telling our children that this is the type of behavior one must display when confronted with a
bully?

The gaming website Joystiq responds to the controversy over the boy on boy kissing, in Bully:

The game is rated T and the box clearly states that there are "sexual themes." Players can also go through Bully without ever having to kiss a boy if they don't want to. Hopefully, the negative hype about Bully is so played out that this surprising content won't cause a frenzy about youth corruption or some such nonsense. Once again, it's kissing -- everyone stay calm.

Point taken.

If you're still wondering (like me) whether there will ever be a time when playing video games is actually proven to be healthy for a child, there is a game that seems to have produced measurable "positive" results:

[img_assist|fid=2096|thumb=1|alt=remission]
Re-Mission by HopeLab, a Palo Alto, Calif., non-profit organization, features a microscopic nanobot named Roxxi, a shapely brunette who, with the player's direction, travels through the body aggressively blasting away at cancer cells.

A trial of 375 cancer patients, all young adults aged 13 to 29, showed that those who played the
Re-Mission game adhered to their treatment protocol more closely and maintained higher levels of the treatment drugs in their blood, the report said. They also showed an ability to better understand their disease and they showed more confidence that they could beat it.

[source]

No matter what my husband and I decide for our children, it helps to know that there are resources available to help us choose between educational and bullying-type video games.

On the other hand, I can still see how kicking cancer's ass can be sorta...CEWL!

----------------------------------------------------

Contributing Editor Elizabeth Thompson also writes for the eZine, "The Imperfect Parent."

[Photo Credit: Tim Boyle / Getty Images file - via MSNBC]

Walmarting Across America: Blogging in the Discount Aisles of Good vs. Evil

2006-10-17T10:39:03-05:00

[img_assist|fid=2027|thumb=1|alt=walmartrvbusted]
Their idea was simple enough - two people taking an RV trip across America, stopping at Wal-mart and visiting with employees and its customers throughout the country - Walmarting Across America had all the earmarks of being a great travel blog.

[cue evil-sounding muzak]

So, Jim and Laura were able to get Walmart's permission to write about their journey and the giant retailer offered to sponsor the trip in their campaign to promote Working Families for Walmart.

And that's when the proverbial shit hit the blogosphere.

BlogHers own travel editor, Pam, blogged about how these Wal-marting Rvers were outed as corporate bloggers, and not only did bloggers want to know if Jim and Laura are real - yes, they are in fact freelance journalists - Walmart critics went on the attack:

Why? Because we dared to write positive things about Wal-Mart. The people who hate Wal-Mart couldnâ€™t argue with anything we said â€” we were writing about real people and telling true stories.

Although it started out as a blog, Walmarting Across America has - as most blogs have a tendency to do - become a catalyst to a controversy that has left a bad taste for consumers, especially those of us who have shopped at Wal-mart.

Who hasn't?

Walmart is one of the largest retailers in the world - with more than 1.4 million employees and over $10 billion in profits - and has also received a lion's share of consumer criticism over treatment of its workers, which is why sites like Wake Up Wal-mart are blogging reasons why Wal-mart needs to change:

Wal-Mart has become much more than just a small corner store in rural America. In the past 10 years, Wal-Mart has grown into the largest retailer in the world -- number 1 among the Fortune 500 -- and is America's largest employer. With more than 1.4 million employees and over $10 billion in profits, Wal-Mart is a giant company with giant responsibilities. First and foremost, Wal-Mart has a responsibility to all Americans to set the standard for customers, workers and communities, and to help build a better America.

Though many bloggers feel as if they've been lied to by Jim and Laura, Wal-mart takes all the blame for the blogging fiasco and reinterates their commitment in promoting trust:

For the past several days, I have been listening to the blogging community discuss the cross-country tour that Edelman designed for Working Families for Wal-Mart.

I want to acknowledge our error in failing to be transparent about the identity of the two bloggers from the outset. This is 100% our responsibility and our error; not the client's.

Allegations of poor worth ethics is why blogs like Wal-mart Watch are keeping an eye on this consumer giant they feel are just a few steps away from becoming the crash dummies of marketing:

For every baby step it makes--pushing organics, pushing energy-efficient light-bulbs--it does something, well, just plain dumb.

As a mother of four, I think it's safe for me to say it's tough raising a family on a tight budget and it's hard not to see Wal-mart rolling back their prices on everyday items...as a good thing.

Sheta is a single mother who happily shopped Wal-mart using their layaway plan (especially at Christmas) - before they canceled the program, that is - and blogs her disappointment with Wal-mart (as well as Target) and believes herself to be forced in choosing between the lesser of two evils:

I know that Wal-Mart treats their employees like shit. I know that they use dirt poor Chinese labor in horrible conditions. I waver between "well, they took the job, what would they be earning if it wasn't there?" and "this is completely unacceptable."

Target...Wal-mart...K-mart...these are the places that every day average shoppers (like me) are more likely to find a bargain and are trying to match their prices...sale for sale...in hopes of meeting their shoppers' desires with satisfaction, like Allie Beatty's need for affordable meds:

Wal-Mart is my guilty pleasure. I'll spend hours browsing the isles and the faces. I love Florida. Really, I do. No state tax, great highways, warm winters, Disney. And now this! By the way, you know how they say imitation is the highest form of flattery? Well, Target plans to match Wal-Mart's $4 drug program. I guess everybody will have to jump on the generic drug rollback bandwagon.

After reading both sides of the love/hate relationship bloggers have with Wal-mart, I believe that it's fair to say that we consumers should be allowed to express our opinions, especially when a large discount retailer (such as Wal-mart) puts itself into the position of making a profit, while our trust lies in the balance and its fair trade practices are in question - no doubt - but, with that said, should big business stay away from the blogosphere?

Only time will tell - I, for one, would like to see more corporations make good and honest use of bloggers - and if the big-wigs of business are listening, perhaps there's hope for Wal-mart shoppers, yet.

----------------------------------------------------

Contributing Editor Elizabeth Thompson also writes for the eZine, "The Imperfect Parent."

Edoc Laundry: "Hung out to dry," on CSI!

2006-10-12T13:29:04-05:00

I am a huge CSI fan - Vegas, New York, Miami or wherever the crime scene investigation takes me - and last night's episode of CSI-Ny did not disappoint. A couple of gruesome murders, some pretty graphic autopsy scenes, a montage of sophisticated investigative procedures, set to some kick-ass music and...hey, wait a minute...isn't that Edward Furlong and where did he get those cool-looking t-shirts!?!

Get this.

No, really - you're possibly looking at the biggest fashion statement in cryptology since...well...Tom Hank's bad hair day in The Davinci Code - not only are the graphics on these hot looking t-shirts beautifully designed, Edoc Laundry clothes tell a secret:

Woven into everything we make are hidden messages and codes most people canâ€™t see. Edoc clothes break across the traditional categories of street, skate/surf, and classic by creating a new category that spans our entire line: Covert. Every piece of gear is a trapdoor into a hidden world. Check it out. Weâ€™ve got nothing to hide.

Not anymore.

The blogosphere is exploding with excitement over Edoc Laundry and (if you're like me) CSI fans are curious to know - whassup with all the secrecy?

This is a Limited Edition of the shirt Edoc Laundry designed specifically for the CSI:NY episode â€œHung Out To Dryâ€.

How does the shirt work?

1. Find the hidden phrase.

2. Lift up the inside front of an edoc garment and read "nothing to hide" code. This is your key to unlock the second code.

3. When you've figured out how the key code on the inside works - apply it to the second code hidden elsewhere in the garment.

4. Type your solution to the second code, in the secret location found on the website. Each garment unlocks a piece of the story - reassemble the pieces in the correct order and you'll learn the dangerous story behind edoc laundry, and why you must keep our secret.

Being an avid gamer and a bit of a puzzle "freak" - at least, that's what my husband calls me each time I'm able to solve a cryptogram, when he can't! - I believed that I had just been introduced to one of the coolest marketing ideas, evuh!

An interactive gaming t-shirt!

Never having heard of Edoc - until the CSI episode - I was pleasantly surprised to learn that these cool t-shirts really did exist, as was Seattle Times writer Pamela Sitt. In her report, she states how (with a little help from television) this small Seattle-based company managed to increase their cult-following on line:

I must disclose here that I was introduced to these shirts last spring and even wrote about them over the summer, but at the time did not recognize their true star potential. I merely thought they were "cute."

Note to self: Do not make same mistake with future offspring.

Being introduced to these shirts only last night, it's hard for me to say whether or not this fashion trend will live up to its secret.

But, I've always been a t-shirt and jeans kind of gal.

So, before I decide whether or not to purchase one more secret (read: Victoria's been hiding in my children's dress up trunk for years, now) one things for sure - Edoc Laundry just took graphic design to a whole new level of cool - I'll never look at a t-shirt the same again!

---------------------------------------------

Contributing Editor Elizabeth Thompson also writes for the eZine, "The Imperfect Parent."

When Mean Girls Go Spotting: Glamour's Big Book of Do's and Don'ts

2006-10-10T17:06:01-05:00

Ever been out somewhere (or, with someone) and saw something (she or he was wearing) that made you stop (dead in your tracks) and wonder, "Holy crap, what was I...ahem...I mean...were you thinking when you put that outfit together!?!"

Well, I'd duck and cover (if you were me) or, at least take a picture!

Because, now you can browse, rate, share and comment on what anyone is wearing, anywhere and at anytime with Don't Spotting:

Starting now, whenever you see someone looking truly awfulâ€”or truly chicâ€”take a photo and show the world! Use your digital camera or camera phone and upload, or just browse, rate and comment on other people's photos. Remember, we're talking fashion commentary, not personal attacks. So play fair, and have fun!

[source: Glamour.com]

Tipping the "don't" side of the fashion scale, my first reaction was...okay, it's not like I haven't covered fugly...or, put a call out to the fashion police, before.

In fact, my job here often times requires me to visit fashion blogs and websites - like glamour.com - for inspiration and I find commentary sites like Go Fug Yourself and Manolo's many blogs quite entertaining.

Are "Don't Spotters" any different?

But, then I came to the part where they offer prizes:

Be a Glamour Do! Upload a photo of a Do or Don't and you'll automatically get a chance to win a trip to NYC for a fabulous $2,000 shopping spree with a Glamour editor. Bonus: You'll also be entered to win today's prize: a copy of Glamour's Big Book of Dos & Don'ts!

And then found bloggers like hatsumichan in a rant as Glamour goes mean girl:

Thank you for encouraging, by offering a shopping spree, mean-spirited cattiness on your mainstream website. So, now when I tell students, don't post those humiliating pictures of the gammas in your pack on Photobucket or on your MySpace, they'll respond with, Oh, you're so right, I should make sure I can profit from their gullibility when they thought I was their friend. Does this mean I have to share the prize, or can I just e-mail everybody in my address book when the picture goes up?

To be fair - The Runway Scoop says, at first glance, that Don't Spotting is pure fashion entertainment and perhaps there's even a lesson to be learned spotting some of the worst fashion don'ts, like these:

Oh. My. I just looked at the gallery of Worst Donâ€™ts and Iâ€™m appalled. Simply appalled that people actually walk out of the house looking like that! You know, Iâ€™m all for expressing yourself and being original, but there are some things that you just donâ€™t do...Grab a bucket cause you just might vomit!

Though, Glamour's editor is quick to point out that the Do's and Don'ts page of their magazine (which is now available as a book) didn't mean to sound...so mean:

The "Dos and Don'ts" page isn't just about looking at horrible outfits and good ones, she said â€” it's also about giving great fashion and style tips. "We're trying to be very positive," Schwartz told co-anchor Rene Syler. "We've all been 'don'ts' in our lives, and the moral of the story is, it doesn't matter whether you're a size 2, or a size 28: You can be a Glamour 'do.' Even very wealthy people can dress very tacky, and we show you that," too.

[Blogtip to Julie]

All mean girls aside (especially, you...yes...YOU...from my fourth grade class who insisted the drawing of my "greasy-haired" and "pot-marked" younger self was, "Just a picture...gosh!") Rachel Sklar of The Huffington Post makes a good argument for empowering an army of citizen journalists:

...the unfortunate reality is that Glamour has enabled precisely that with this site. Terms of Use notwithstanding, the fact remains that the setup has the potential for abuse. ETP can sympathize; we don't want anyone seeing our muffintop. But if you must, Glamour, then the least you can do is offer the same protection you offer in your book and magazine: The black bar, and a little respect for anonymity and privacy. Our muffintops deserve no less.

Promise, you won't spot me...if I promise...I won't spot you...I mean...ah, hell!...it can get real fugly, out there, in the blogosphere - do we really need another reason to cover up our muffintops!?!

In other words, duck and cover - the next person pointing a camera in your face (or anywhere below the black bar) could be a Don't Spotter - or, risk being on the cover of the next fugly edition...being sold at a news stand or grocery store near you...to be sure!

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Contributing Editor Elizabeth Thompson also writes for the eZine, "The Imperfect Parent."

Does this t-shirt make me look too...evil?!?

2006-10-05T17:06:01-05:00

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The other day, my ten-year-old daughter (who's turning eleven in December) was scootering with a friend and, as she waved at one of the other mother's in our neighborhood, a woman in a passing
car made this statement, "Does your mother know you're wearing that t-shirt?"

When my daughter answered, "Yes, she knows," the woman told her, "Well...she should dress you better!" and took off like a big 'ole bat outta hell.

It's my daughter's favorite t-shirt (pictured above) and - although there weren't any "sexually suggestive" words printed on it - I hesitated for a moment, before my daughter insisted other kids have worn similar t-shirts to school.

The skull wasn't quite as malevolent-looking - at least, that's what my daughter and I thought - when I bought it.

I blogged about my husband and my dealing with our daughter's taste in street clothes, on my personal site, before and started writing this post with one very specific question in mind - okay, maybe two - "What are other girls wearing and where do their moms shop?!?"

That's when I found Jules' Everyday Mommy Blog and was going to mention her .

But, a fellow BlogHer - the always in-tuned Mary Tsao - beat me to it.

Reading even further - a very good post, by the way - I couldn't help but think about my daughter, or the comment made to her...by an absolute stranger...it really started to hit home.

Speaking from experience - having said, "NO!" to "hoochie mama" from off the clothes rack and being labeled a "mean mommy" often enough - shopping in the girls' department has become quite a challenge.

Perhaps you already know - or read by now - about how teen's t-shirts are making educators squirm, as parents and schools wrestle with what do about racy tees, and here's the thing.

Wearing suggestive clothing - especially for a ten-year-old - is inappropriate, you'll get no argument from me. But, why stop there? Does dressing modestly mean no skulls or suggestive shirts...what about "Hello Kitty" or "Got Milk"...ever?

Or, is it merely censoring our children's "freedom of expression" and where do we - as a concerned parent or guardian - draw the line?

As most parents, especially those with young girls perhaps already know, I have learned to "pick my battles" which - directed especially to those of us who are concerned with the way "other children" dress - sometimes leads me to make certain compromises, that may be even harder for some parents to face.

Yes, I allow my child to wear skull earrings and t-shirts, but -- nevermind, the kid is a straight-A student and has been enrolled in the gifted & talented program since the 2nd grade -- does that make her evil and/or me a bad mother?

I want my girls to be comfortable in their skin and do allow them the freedom to try and express their own sense of style, while exposing as little skin as possible.

It's not easy.

Take Halloween costumes, for example.

Annika is living Life in the Suburbs and blogs about trying to find a Halloween costume:

But, you guys, it is so incredible hard to get a decent costume for a 10 year old girl. I don't

want her to dress up as "Tina, the little tease" or as "Bella Cheerleader".

Her daughter is the same age and is into wearing something "scary" (like my skull-loving child) for Halloween - how hard can it be?

Sadly enough we did not find a thing...All the costumes they had in the Halloween store were either cheerleader costumes or sexy little vampires. Give me a break! There is no way that I am buying something like that. Karolina wants to be something scary, but not with a mask on her face. She wants to show her face, and she wants make-up on. Scary, scary make-up, of course. So, since we did not find anything today we have to continue our search for the perfect costume.

DC Baby polled their readers and got some pretty good tips on best bargains for Halloween costumes like Target, K-Mart and Old Navy, including these online stores:

CostumeExpress.com: They have some of the cheaper prices I've seen for a lot of the standard costumes. However, I've also noticed they have some really cute toddler costumes that I haven't seen anywhere else. They
process orders very quickly. I ordered my son's costume before noon on Wednesday, and it was shipped the same day. I got it via standard mail several days before it was expected. The quality
is the same as most standard Halloween costumes!

DisneyShopping.com: Because great sales, free shipping with coupon codes.

LillysKids.com

Sensational Beginnings

Joann's Fabric Store: They usually have a cute selection of bagged costumes and accessories. If you're on their mailing list, you can get a 40 percent off coupon and then the prices aren't just reasonable, but cheap. Also, they often have sales where the Halloween costumes and accessories are very reduced.

One Step Ahead: Affordable, lots of variety, and best of all, I can shop from home.

Clearly, when it comes to addressing the way young girls dress, there are quite a few bloggers having a problem these days.

There are a lot of gray areas with deciding on what exactly our children should be wearing - especially with Halloween just around the corner - it just doesn't seem all that fun, anymore.

One thing's for sure - manufacturers should stop marketing "sexually suggestive" clothing to young girls!

Then, perhaps the fashion industry should start paying a little more attention to bloggers (like Moms for Modesty) on a mission to teach their kids the right way to dress.

Just remember: do not confuse our children (and parents like me) anymore by sending out the wrong message.

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Contributing Editor also writes for the eZine, "The Imperfect Parent."

Extreme Home Makeover - BlogHer Edition

2006-10-03T16:43:36-05:00

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It never fails - unlike nearly every major appliance or mold and mildew stain remover I've used in the last two months - every Sunday evening, my family and I heat up a couple of bags of popped corn in the microwave (yes, it works...knock on wood...but, not too hard) reach for a couple of blankets, nudge the dog off the couch, grab a box of tissues and get ready to cry our eyes out, as we settle in for another heart-wrenching episode of Extreme Makeover - Home Edition.

The show is fun, informative, fast to lend a helping hand to those in need and - especially if you are already a fan, like me - you may be interested to know just what BlogHers have to say, as Extreme Makeover plans on renovating homes in all 50 states and maybe coming to a neighborhood, near you!

A lot of the items used on Extreme Makeover are donated by Sears. However, other companies are getting in on the bandwagon and passing along a little something along to the rest of us - Celebrity Baby Blog posts about a gift that keeps on giving:

[img_assist|fid=1914|thumb=1|alt=pumpkinnoodle]
Pumpkin Noodle, a simple but sophisticated line of clothing for babies and toddlers from 0 to 4T, has donated clothing to the three youngest children (there are six in the family) for the house being done by the Extreme Makeover Home Edition team in Michigan [aired on October 1st.]

Celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Garner, Kate Hudson, Gweneth Paltrow, Heidi Klum and Denise Richards have all been gifted with Pumpkin Noodle

To continue the gift of giving, Pumpkin Noodle would like to offer 10% off to all CBB readers at their online boutique at www.pumpkinnoodle.com through the end of October.

Use coupon code EMHE.

Though, most people who watched would probably agree, last Sunday's edition was an extremely emotional show - the box of tissues nearly empty by the time Desperate Housewives started - it really hit home for the hubs and me, when we learned that the house in Michigan took 53 hours and 54 minutes...to build...beating the record of 94 hours...to build...A HOUSE, PEOPLE!

So, what's my excuse?!?

Heaven forbid we should ever have to submit our names for consideration into Extreme's pool of possible makeovers - seeing as last Sunday's show was about a woman who recently lost her husband on Christmas Eve and was left to abandon their mold-infested 900 sq. ft. home with her six children - still...just once...I would love to be able to walk into any one of the six rooms in my house and have someone say in a sincere and understanding voice, "After 7 years of living with unfinished walls, sagging exposed beams and hand-me-down furniture...it's finally finished...welcome home, Thompson Family!"

Perhaps, there are plenty of other families - some more deserving than others - who feel that their home improvement projects may well be a lifetime's work in progress.

June gives us The Indiana Update and questions the reality of the show's timeline:

"Well we've had a bit of excitement in our small blip on the map! Extreme Home Makeover has been filming an episode about 10 miles from our house in the tiny town of St. Meinrad. There have been Ty spottings galore, although come to find out, he isn't really even there for most of the event, basically just the beginning and the end! Makes one wonder how he gets that special, secret room done! Could it be we are being snookered by a reality TV show? Surely not!"

Rosana Olsen believes Extreme Makeover did Iowa proud, as she recounts her experience with another makeover to the Des Moines Register:

"My volunteer experiences this past week at the build site of ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" in Tama County are permanently etched in my memory. It was my pleasure and privilege to work with, and beside, the employees of Hubbell Homes, the contractor chosen to build the home."

A friend of mine recently finished putting an addition onto her simple ranch-style home and - after 8 months of hiring, firing, and re-hiring contractors - there was nothing easy about that renovation and they ended up (and still are) doing a lot of the work, themselves - it was a home renovating nightmare that scared me straight to the "how-to" and "oops, now what" aisle of my local home center!

Perhaps there's a place where we "gently used" and "trash to treasure" home improvement types can go for help - have you thought about going to a home and garden show, lately?

The Home Show is an event designed for homeowners in all stages of remodeling, landscaping and decorating their homes. Each event includes hundreds of exhibits with merchandise, product demonstrations and sample interior and exterior vignettes. With a combination of new products and expert advice from the pros, the Home Show inspires homeowners with countless ideas on enhancing their home's comfort and functionality, as well as its aesthetic appeal and overall value.

Visit the Home & Garden Show and see hundreds of experts who supply the products and services you need - check dates HERE for an expo near you.

[via: American Consumer Shows (ACS)]

Or, you can enter to win the makeover of your dreams:

The DIY Network - Ultimate Kitchen & Bath: Ready to create the kitchen and bath you've always wanted? Enter for a chance to win $100,000 to customize your kitchen and bath - you may enter once a day from October 2 through October 30, 2006!

The Home Depot - Dream Kitchen Makeover: Every time you use a MasterCard card at The Home Depot or homedepot.com between September 7 â€“ October 31, 2006, you'll be automatically entered for a chance to win a $100,000 dream kitchen makeover. Every purchase is another chance to win. [Blogtip: bfeedme]

Benjamin Moore - Colour Makeover Contest: Win a free colour makeover from Benjamin Moore valued at $5,000! Simply submit a digital photo of your room below and tell us why you want a colour makeover.

Yes, it's so nice when we can get a little help (every now and again) and - since, it's likely the hubs and I will continue plugging away at our own home makeover...at...an...extremely...slow...pace:

If you've got an extreme makeover or renovating story of your own, please...let me know - you can either email me or leave a comment - I'd love to share it.

In the meantime, don't bother with entering the 2007 HGTV Dream Home in Winter Park, Colorado - that sucker's mine!
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Contributing Editor Elizabeth Thompson also writes for the eZine, "The Imperfect Parent."

[Header image: TV.com]

Moblogs and Going Ga Ga For Shoes

2006-09-29T13:49:03-05:00

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There's something to be said about finding the perfect shoe and - that favorite pair that fits you like a glove and best represents your personality - if you agree, then perhaps you can understand how some people feel moved enough to blog about and share pictures of their shoes.

Like Blogaholics"The Shoe Tree,"

the very essence of blogging, I think, is the fact that it allows bloggers to share an important side of their story and perhaps even "create an unintentional statement," in the end.

Tell the story and it sounds, nice - but, post a picture and it becomes a brand new experience that, perhaps only then, we could fully appreciate!

That's what moblogging is all about:

Moblog is a blend of the words mobile and weblog. A mobile weblog, or moblog, consists of content posted to the Internet from a mobile or portable device, such as a cellular phone or PDA.
The art of the Moblog is that "a picture tells a thousand word." By posting pictures the Moblogger is able to allow the viewer to look through their eyes, to visually experience where he or she is and what he or she is doing.

[via: Wikipedia]

Or, in this case - to see what shoes bloggers are wearing - there's a new moblog in the blogosphere and started with one thing in mind, "as a celebration of all things shoe," called Shoegaga:

[img_assist|fid=1853|thumb=1|alt=irregularloveofshoes]
Each week the best moblogged image will win a pair of shoes from Ravel, and each month, the best of the best will win a shiny Sony Ericsson mobile phone and pair of shoes from Ravel.

You can send pictures or videos to this moblog easily using your camera phone or computer. Just MMS or email your images to: shoegaga@moblg.net

[pictured: irregular love posted by "anonymous" with shoegaga.com]

This moblog is open to members of the public as well as all moblogUK members and perhaps you're a little more than curious (like me) or still wondering - What is it with people blogging about their shoes!?!

Susie over at Style Bubble decided to flaunt her Miu Miu x POP pink canvas platforms she got a while back for some "live" shoe attention:

[img_assist|fid=1877|thumb=1|alt=skybubblesshoes]
What is it about looking at people's shoes?

What is it that illicits such reaction?

I'm personally more interested in an ensemble as a whole as opposed to just looking at someone's feet. But it does seem the easiest compliment to throw around is 'Cute shoes!'.

Okay, maybe a blogger's got your attention and now you're looking for a pair of blog-worthy shoes of your own.

If your having trouble, or your shoe rack is coming up a bit...you know...bare (like mine) you could always check out these shoe blogs for the latest in fall fashion finds, for your feet!

Blogging about Willow Shoes is Joanna, a tall woman (like me) with some big shoes to fill (ditto):

[img_assist|fid=1865|thumb=1|alt=reallybigshoes]
...the trouble with being tall is that I need great big plates of meat as feet to support me. And you know what they say about girls with big feet - they need big shoes.

That's why I'm so excited that Willow Shoes - a website I've been shopping from for years since they specialise in shoes size 10 and up.

The Shoe Dish

blogged the cutest pair of shoes and - available at a bargain price - they are simply irresistible:

[img_assist|fid=1869|thumb=1|alt=shoedishshoe]
These very simple open-toe slingbacks are from Chadwicks for only $39.95! Woohoo! Shoedish and friends love a bargain. Purse not includedâ€¦

Shoewawa (go ahead, say it like you mean it, I'll wait!) blogs a Marc Jacobs patent peep face-off and informs their readers how one of these shoes...is not like the other...one of these very expensive patent leather open-toed pumps looks just like the cheaper...and that's just plain wrong:

[img_assist|fid=1857|thumb=1|alt=marcjacobcopies]
Amazingly, the shoe on the right is not the same as the one on the left. I'm not lying! One of these costs $398.95 a pair, the other $99.95. Would you be able to tell the difference, because I don't think I would unless I was so close I could smell the patent leather.

Kim, President of Shoeaholics Anonymous is a self-confessed "certified shoeaholic" and says that admitting your addiction is the first step in the program - but, be warned, visiting her blog will perhaps influence good shopping habits:

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Like finding these Women's Skechers Somethin' Else Pull-ons for only $19.97 (regularly $100.00 from Amazon! Choice of White, Silver or Multi-Color

click here

FashionMojo directed my attention towards a new online community for women who love shoes

ShoeSeduction.com is a shoe portal for all women who love to shop and collect shoes. Get listed to the ShoeSeduction.com newsletter - that will be given to the first 3000 members that will sign up - and you'll get promotions like: Shoe Sales, Buy/Sell, Discount Coupon, Compare Prices, Shoe Sizes. You can also get an update of whatâ€™s hot and whatâ€™s not on the latest trend of shoes.
All the services that ShoeSeduction.com offers is free and guarantees that your email will NOT get spammed.

I hate spam - but, I absolutely love the idea of more bloggers (and mobloggers) helping me to see just how pretty my feet could be.

Or, not.

As Nicole over at Luxist shares my dislike of the new trend from designer Perry Ellis, men wearing short suits, this spring

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Not one to dash their hopes, but this is one trend that won't carry over once it is off the runway. Men don't want to wear them and the buyers for stores like Neiman Marcus and Saks know it; the suits are being passed over at almost every level. While the idea of being cool and comfortable in a professional environment is appealing, it doesn't seem like the business community is ready to embrace the business short look.

The two reasons that men can't wear the short suits are (1) a lack of appropriate footwear and (2) hairy legs.

Though, his legs seem very smooth and I'm sorta diggin' his shoes - is that wrong?

Moblog ya', later!

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Contributing Editor Elizabeth Thompson also writes for the eZine, "The Imperfect Parent."

[The Shoe Tree - via: Roadside America

Unique Gift Ideas: A Truly Special Toy Buying Guide

2006-09-27T12:06:32-05:00

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Every year - especially around this time with Halloween just around the calendar - my kids start working on their lists and wait (fogging up our storm door window, right next to the dog) for the arrival of "The Big Toy Book," nearly running over our mail-lady in anticipation of tearing into its many pages, while my husband and I feign our ignorance at exactly just how many days there are left, until Christmas.

Now, for something totally different - a reason NOT to hate shopping at the toy store!

Toys "R" Us has released its Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids, an easy-to-use toy selection guide for parents and friends of children with disabilities.

What's inside?

[img_assist|fid=1833|thumb=1|alt=toysrusdifferentlyabled]
Approximately 200 toys were evaluated using focus groups and other criteria. This year, more than 80 made the cut. Symbols are assigned to each toy so parents can easily find the right fit for their child, and all toys on the list are tagged with two or more symbols. The guide also offers **Lekotek's popular "Top 10 Tips for Buying Toys" for differently-abled kids.

[source: Toys "R" Us]

Some picks this year include:

Baby Counting Pal(TM) by LeapfrogÂ® - which helps promote auditory skills.

Candy LandÂ® Deluxe by Milton BradleyÂ® - which helps promote language development.

Classic TinkertoyÂ® Construction Set by HasbroÂ® - which challenges kids to think.

Dora's Talking Kitchen(TM) by Fisher-PriceÂ® - which helps promote social skills.

This is such a good thing.

It brings to light a need that I only recently became aware of and - something that parents of children with special needs face every blessed day of their lives - the simple act of just having fun, for a differently-abled kid, can be quite a challenge!

Susan - a single mom of twins - has mixed emotions about Toys-R-Us putting out a different kind of buying guide:

It IS nice to have references for adults wishing to gift our kids, yet having no understanding of the nature of our children's interests and needs. On the other hand, everybody seems to want a piece of the autism financial pie, and I'm wondering if TRU has jumped on the bandwagon.

I can understand Susan's hesitation - see my last two posts - but, I happen to also agree with Kristen Scott - contributing blogger of Blogging Baby - as she re-thinks her opinion of Toys "R" Us":

Parents of disabled kids say the guide is a relief, because, as parents of "regular" kids might not realize, not every toy is "fun" for a developmentally disabled child.

She makes a very valid point and received comments that left a lump in my throat, the size of my 5-year-old child's fist!

A therapist-friend of mine - who is a certified teacher in early child intervention - wanted to know if I had any toys that I would consider parting with, for her kids. After briefly ticking-off the few things I had to offer (read: relatively new and not so beat up) she thanked me and then graciously declined - she was looking for special toys. More specifically, meant to help a child with his/her small motor skills.

She made her own.

Her kids' favorite?

One of those empty "school tool boxes" filled with rice - the kids could play and, at the end of each session, my friend would simply close up shop and move on.

I'll be sending her the link, today.

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Contributing Editor Elizabeth Thompson also writes for the eZine, "The Imperfect Parent."

Fall Fashion: Is Ugly The New Pretty?

2006-09-26T12:27:26-05:00

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Many bloggers are looking forward to this Thursday's (Sept. 28, 8 p.m. est.) premiere of ABC's new comedy series, "Ugly Betty" - as I am! Being a bit of a dork growing up (okay, I still am...shuddup!) nothing would give me more pleasure than to report, "ugly is the new pretty" as Variety.com review suggests the show, "...strikes a universal chord about inner beauty, and it has the benefit of showcasing a real talent find -- albeit one hidden beneath braces, goofy glasses and oversized eyebrows."

Amen.

Let the fashion gods and shoppers of the world unite this fall, as we watch bloggers join together and cry in solidarity, "Take that, you evil bastards!"

BlogHer member Erika wrote about her frustration with shopping for fall fashion and gives her recommendation to the fasion world - Go Fug Yourself!

Did the fashion kingdom get together for a royal meeting and decide to develop a very wicked plan of attack against the normal female? I think they did. And by normal, I mean not painfully thin, not 8 feet tall, and not a close cousin of a gazelle in human form. Did they say, "Hey! Let's bring back every unflattering and confusing garment and try to make them cool again! Then we can sit back and laugh about the immense power we have over these fashion victim women!" (evil laughing ensues).

I happen to agree with Erika.

Big shirts, belted blazers, multiple layers and leggings are some of this year's fall fashions - if worn as the designers intended - can go from trendy...to fugly...well, for example, check out what Jersey Girl has to say, when approached by an Eddie Bauer salesman, regarding this fall's new fashion items in the "quilted" look:

[img_assist|fid=1801|thumb=0|alt=fulllengthquilted]
So I hit him with: "What the hell is it?"

It's a Quilted Down Vest With Faux Fur Collar.

According to the web site, it's "a chic and cozy solution to cool-weather dressing. Our shapely chevron-quilted vest is filled with quality lightweight down that can be worn comfortably indoors or out (in mild conditions)."

Chic? Ahem. Comfortably? How can you be comfortable when you're wearing a garment that makes you look like an assclown? I don't think that's possible. This goes against everything I believe to be true when it comes to shopping at Eddie Bauer.

By now, most of you have probably seen catalogs and stores toting the trendiness of legging outfits and - though many of us have worn them in the past - some women find the rebirth of this accessory to the 80's redux, baffling at best.

Sassy will go as far as believing that the Fashion Gods (those same evil bastards that Erika and I spoke of) must be crazy bringing leggings back and - although you couldn't make her wear them - she is willing to share some pretty fugly moments of her own:

It was a red outfit, and although it was super comfy especially when one is with child, it was fugly now that I look back. I, thankfully, have no pictures of myself with this attire on and for that I'm very grateful. It makes me shudder to think I owned leggings.

I understand Sassy's reluctance to post a picture of herself wearing the dreaded "red outfit" (see the equally-feared "gold outfit" below) although, I would have certainly related, then reassured her that she wasn't the only one wearing leggings or "totally unaware" of how fugly it all was, at the time - it's very hard to imagine yourself ever having bought into becoming a fashion victim.

[raises hand and lowers head in shame]

[img_assist|fid=1813|thumb=0|alt=goldleggings]

Except when it comes to this equally-dreaded "gold outfit!"

Oh...my...Dog!

Mandy blogged about...GULP!...those leggings and gives good reason why we we should still be very afraid:

you know...that when girls this pretty can't make an outfit look good...the rest of us...just better stay away. Lol...what WERE they thinking with these?!

I don't know - how can we make a woman look totally fugly?

Or, more to the point, Blondie wants to know - when is the bad fashion man going to stop?

[img_assist|fid=1797|thumb=1|alt=overworkedjeans]

Those jeans...eww shoes...and that sweater?

I bet you could not decide on what to wear with--those jeans.

And the thing was you really wanted to wear those jeans, so why not just throw everything on.

Next time you have that same inkling--don't.

Perhaps the jeans are a little "over-worked" (a little less eavyhay on the itchingstay) the timeless truth being, less is more. And no one knows that better than Christina Aguilera (a Go Fug Yourself regular) as they celebrate and say "goodbye to the fug:"

[img_assist|fid=1809|thumb=1|alt=christinaunfugged]

She looks fantastic.

The kicky retro red dress with pea-coat accents, the trench, the sexy leopard shoes and bag, the artfully tousled mane -- it's all great.

I've never been a huge fan of massive, colored plastic sunglass rims, but even those are the perfect accessory here.

Pretty!

So, the next time some smarmy fashion house tells you something really fugly, "Would look so good on you," take a hint from these bloggers and don't be afraid to "blog the fug" and tell the Fashion Gods to, "Go fug yourself!" and say hello to The Fuggers!

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Contributing Editor Elizabeth Thompson also writes for the eZine, "The Imperfect Parent."

Sex, Soft Sells and Kissable Lips

2006-09-25T10:59:35-05:00

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A poll recently named Jessica Alba as having "the most kissable lips," and the woman most men would probably give their eye teeth to make out with. Besides having a kick-ass body and gorgeous...well...it's obvious that the Sin City starlit is a hot commodity and, in my opinion, is one sexy way for Colgate to mark Oral Health Month.

But, will it make me want to run out and buy more toothpaste - or, yet one more reason to hate my terribly crooked teeth?

Most people would perhaps agree, pretty sells - when it's believable - take Rachael Ray...please!

[img_assist|fid=1781|thumb=1|alt=rachaelray.com]
I mean (go ahead and click) take a good look at her image.

How cute can this Food Network chef, host of her own television show and author of about a bazillion ways to cook in less time it takes some of us to get our pretty on...get!?!

She's straddling a bike...for goodness sake...and looking very...um...well, some bloggers would go as far as to describe Rachael Ray as being a bit over-exposed.

Cat at the Daily Dish ponders the reason why people are loving-hating Rachael Ray:

Maybe it's her nearly-annoying catch-phrases like "yum-o" and "delish." Maybe it's how she gushes unapologetically about her own cooking. Or maybe, just maybe, it's because she makes it look soooo easy.

There must be something she's doing right - Rachael Ray ranked 81 among Forbes' Top 100 Celebrities In 2006 - and I'll bet you dollars to donuts that her new line of pots and pans are probably selling like hotcakes!

Let's face it, terrific hair and good teeth DOES sell - especially when it's all wrapped up in cutesy - and the Princess of Perk is cashing in on her sex appeal!

But, are women buying it?

Take, for instance, the latest marketing gimmick The McDonald's Corporation is pulling in China - advertising the seductive powers of...beef!?!

[img_assist|fid=1785|thumb=1|alt=mcdonaldsburgerchina]
Seducing seems to be the new trend for McDonaldâ€™s in China. Sex sells and I suppose no one wants to do this better than McDonaldâ€™s with their low grade beef hamburgers. With Angelia Jolie-like lips, one raunchy billboard seduces customers with a close up of a puckered mouth almost salivating over a McDonaldâ€™s hamburger (Note: Those burgers look much bigger than the ones we have here in America). Another ad (not shown), features a woman stroking a manâ€™s flexed bicep with the tag line â€œFlirt with your sensesâ€ in Chinese.

[Blog tip to: Caffeine Marketing]

Nothing says, "Come kiss me, you man-fool," like a nice pair of thick, juicy lips...wrapped around a Quarter Pounder, eh?

Nope, I don't find their ad appealing, not at all!

On the other hand, Dove's "Campaign For Real Beauty" is nothing less than brilliant marketing, if not...beautiful!

What's the difference?

If I had to put a face on sex in the media, Molly J (Blasting My Media) makes an example of what she sees as the propoganda of sex sells, alcohol and underage drinking:

[img_assist|fid=1773|thumb=1|alt=skkyvodkaad]
I know this is such a cliche to say because of course alcohol ads try to play with your senses to make it more appealing that is already is but now alcohol advertisers have crossed a line. Underage drinking is so common now and it is mostly based on the fact that ads in magazine and on television glorify drinking. They make drinking look fun and glamorous. Relating sex to drinking is often used because many people feel that they would like to express their sexuality more. SKYY vodka is known for their vibrant blue advertisements which from an artistic perspective are very effective.

Look, I don't have a problem with sex - hell, I've got four kids and still maintain a relatively good sense of humor...let alone a reasonably healthy sex life...especially a little buzzed and/or when I'm awake - but, it's hard to ignore the fact that ads like SKYY vodka (where the man is so obviously in control, while the woman takes a more submissive role) and the media (in general) doesn't seem to have a problem with degrading women (or men, for that matter) endlessly.

Or, sending confusing messages - like Michelob Amber's Superbowl 2006 Touch Football commercial!

My eyes went wide, my mouth dropped and then...I laughed....because their marketing guys are at least trying to get it.

Hell, I love watching football, appreciate the whole "hell hath no fury, like a woman scorned" thing and...well...no, I can't deny the fact that sex sells. But, I'd be hard-pressed to admit that soft sells don't work, especially where women come out on top!

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Contributing Editor Elizabeth Thompson also writes for The Imperfect Parent.

Pink Ribbon, Inc. - The Bad Business Of Buying For A Good Cause

2006-09-20T13:00:58-05:00

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My husband and I purchased a new mattress set (after 16 years...it was time) and that means two things: new sheets and pillows (trust me on this one...okay) and a trip to Linen & Things!

I got 4 new Queen-sized pillows made by Wamsutta (at $10.00 a pop) saved 20% with their in-store coupon, which made a donation to the Komen Foundation and left feeling good about my purchase.

At least, I think I did.

Companies like Fuji Film, Visa, Yankee Candle and the makers of M&M's urge consumers to "think pink," when making their purchases - especially in October!

As if I needed an excuse to eat candy - Halloween is just around the corner! - October is breast cancer awareness month and websites are seeing pink, including the Style Files at Style for Free.

Whether it's message shirts, wrist bands or - dare I say it? - boob-a-thons, getting involved in health campaigns has become very...fashionable. But, there's a rather large contention of bloggers who don't see "buying goods that do good" as all that great - especially the "pink ribbon campaign" of breast cancer awareness - other than making for really big business.

In her thought-provoking post - "Crunch for the Cure" - Twisty lets us know exactly how she feels, as she reads Samantha King's "Pink Ribbons, Inc."

What a page-turner. It concerns a subject I enjoy finding despicable, the â€˜market-driven industry for [breast cancer] survivorshipâ€™. [It may or may not interest you to know, if youâ€™re just joining us, that my fascination for this topic is not merely academic; I was diagnosed exactly a year ago with stage 3 breast cancer.]

And wonders, along with dozens of her readers who've already commented, "What will happen to global consumerism if breast cancer is ever really cured?"

Thanks to the cancer industrial complex, now everyone can participate in marketing cheap crap to consumers, maintaining a â€œtyranny of cheerfulness,â€ and preserving the blue-eyed American family fantasy with its sentimentalized white nurturing mother centerpiece. Itâ€™s as easy as buying a bag of junk food.

Or, four Queen-sized pillows, apparently.

The Charity Blog Network further informs us on King's assertion, "that some corporate-sponsored breast cancer fundraising has become such "market-driven industy" that it focuses less on research and unfortunately places more importance on profit:"

Breast cancer will afflict as many as one in nine women in Canada and kill one in 27 of them. King's book, which will be published in August, "Pink Ribbons Inc: Breast Cancer and the Politics of Philanthropy" maintains that when the pink ribbon campaign became the insignia of the breast cancer cause, corporations starting cashing in.

I happen to agree with CBN in believing that, "again, this comes down to you, the ones who actually give to these causes," in finding out, "exactly where and how much of your donation dollars are going to [the] cause you support."

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Better Business Bureau standards require charities to spend at least 50% of all contributions on their stated causes:

More than 80% of all donations to the National Breast Cancer Foundation benefit free mammograms to needy women, educational programs and cancer research projects.

Weighing in on the other side of the "sink the pink" debate, I believe that the Pink Princess makes a very good point:

Not many people know the power of one color, and how many peopleâ€™s lives it has affected. Yoplait Save Lids to Lives campaign is only one of the thousands of fundraisers geared towards Breast Cancer Awareness. So next time you see a woman wearing a pink ribbon know that this color may have affected her or someone she knows. So many women in the world are proud to wear the color pink. It is a celebration of our womanhood and joining together to help one another. When I think of the color pink, I can think of all the womenâ€™s lives this simple color has saved.

And that ain't even half-bad.

Charities have become big business - Pink Ribbon, Inc. has made it painfully clear - but, then again, giving the gift of hope to those in need is perhaps...business with a purpose.

[Disturbing factoid: This year in America, more than 211,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 43,300 die. One woman in eight either has or will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. In addition, 1,600 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 400 will die this year. If detected early, the five-year survival rate exceeds 95%. Mammograms are among the best early detection methods, yet 13 million U.S. women 40 years of age or older have never had a mammogram.]

For more blogging on women's health, we're building a list of recommended links at Blogging Our Health: Breast Cancer and Beyond. We invite you to add your link!
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Contributing Editor Elizabeth Thompson also writes for the eZine, "The Imperfect Parent."

[World's Largest Pink Ribbon - courtesy of 3M]

Easy To Find Decorating Ideas Made Real Simple

2006-09-13T17:51:39-05:00

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It's only September and I've already got a pile of magazines, catalogs, sale flyers and...well...stuff stacked all over the place that I haven't found the time to go through, yet. After thirteen years of basically being held together by thumb tacks, staples and electrical tape - not to mention with all of my kids in school (full-time) this fall - my house is in serious need of some attention!

In the immortal words of Ty Pennington, "I NEED SOME HELP, PEOPLE!"

Quite honestly, I am not the most domestic of individuals - though, I could have kicked Martha Stewart companies' collective ass...before children - but, now that I have a little more time on my hands, it seems I'm spending a whole lot of it walking aimlessly up and down aisles at Lowes and Home Depot!

Guess what I've recently learned?

"Just looking," and "Holy crap...how much did you say!?!" isn't conducive to getting real personalized service!

I'm also facing the fact that - although I realize a house does not make a home - it'll take more than an extreme makeover to make me wanna come back home, again!

So, where can a BlogHer go for inspiration, when I've already leafed through about a thousand pages, and words like "house beautiful" simply translates as "dysfunctional" and "totally impractical?"

Not far - no magazines, no books, no more room designers' dirty looks - and you don't even need to get dressed!

I recently visited with The Decorating Diva and she gives some pretty clear advice on how to get unstuck:

My clients and students think that I was born with a flair for color, placement and a keen eye for design - creative traits they believe they lack. Of course they donâ€™t immediately believe me when I tell them that creativity is a trait that they can nurture and foster themselves. If I could learn how to mix, match and coordinate colors, fabrics and textures, layout a room visually in my mind and accessorize without fear then they could too. The key, and this is the most important part, is that you have to get unstuck - you have to allow yourself to be creative again.

Hey - did I mention I'm cheap...I mean...frugal? - I'm all about DIY!

That's when I had my "Ah-hah!" moment and found another blog that could help bring out the warmer wood tones of my suburban home's darker side, that's simply Shelterrific:

[img_assist|fid=1688|thumb=1|alt=urbandark]
[img_assist|fid=1692|thumb=1|alt=urbandark2]

Just as the gothic dark look starts emerging into fashion this season, so too is this sort of dark romantic vibe for home design. Here are few [Urban Outfitters] that could really work to hold a room together.

1. Lotus ceramic tealight holder, $15, is lovely in black, though it also comes in few other colors.

2. This baroque resin sconce, $22, would look great in an entry way.

3. These etched scented candles, $16, will make great glasses when they are candles no more.

4. The flocked deer pillow, $36, would probably be too cutesy in any other color, but in black-on-black it is just genius.

Shelterrific is a blog created by a bunch editors, stylists, home-owners, parents, self-made decorators and discerning consumers, who all worked together putting out a magazine called Budget Living. The publication is no longer available, but that didn't stop these talented (for real) friends from doing what they love:

You see, thanks to our professions, weâ€™re privy to great deal of useful information â€” whether that be reading every home, decor and food magazine thatâ€™s printed or getting advance notices on new products, services and stores â€“ and weâ€™d like to share that information. We also are completely addicted to some amazing, like-minded blogs that we hope to introduce you to.

Thanks to Shelterrific, I can add This Next and "shopcasting" to my list of my addictions - and their pretty blog, too:

Well, you know what podcasting is. Itâ€™s making and sharing a playlist of songs you like.

Shopcasting is the same thing, only different. Itâ€™s a product playlist -- a way to recommend to other people things that make life better. Itâ€™s a way to syndicate your taste, your voice. Shopcasting is a mashed up word that combines shopping and broadcasting.

Cool.

This Next is where you'll also find recommendations from bloggers - like Aunt Beep - who provide lists on affordable flair for your home. Like this very unique-looking chandelier:

[img_assist|fid=1680|thumb=1|alt=hivemodernchandelier]
[As selected by tranism]

Classic meets new. Beautiful 12 spire pendant lamp with silk-like resin cocoon over it. Very startling form, but looks to diffuse light wonderfully.

I recommend this for people who like:
chandelier, lamp, lighting, pendant lamp

Tres cool.

I don't know if I'm completely sold on the chandelier (I've got lamps that look just like it...thanks to some very industrious spiders) but, I do believe that "being privy to great deal of useful information," is a blogger's dream, and one that traditional publishing houses are very well aware of. Magazines are ready to share a network of decorating ideas with their readers, in cyberspace:

"Home and Family Network - from the publishers of Better Homes and Gardens, Family Circle, Ladies' Home Journal, Fitness, Country Home, Traditional Home, More, Midwest Living, Parents, Child and American Baby - is an extensive internet portal for those interested in decorating, home improvement, gardening...you name it, they've got a link for it. As well as cool decorating tools like "Arrange-a-Room" and feature called, "Room of the Day."

And if I had to pick one magazine to curl up with - on the sofa next to my chocolate lab - it would be Real Simple:

I love this magazine and - not only does it take more than a day to get through their gorgeously simple pages - I find myself referring back to it for decorating and organizing ideas, products, and helpful tips (such as new uses for old things and gift-giving ideas) with online features and web exclusives like: Website finder - one-click connection to every website featured in every issue of Real Simple.

Find sites by date or by category.

[header image: via Real Simple]

Phew - now, that's what I call A LOT of helpful information - so, what do ya' think?

Contributing Editor Elizabeth Thompson also writes for the eZine, The Imperfect Parent.

Hey Mom, What's Your Fashion Style?

2006-09-07T15:47:34-05:00

Your Fashion Style is Classic

You like what's stood the test of time...
Simple, well styled clothes that don't scream trendy.

You stay updated and modern, but your clothes stay in style for a while.

You wouldn't be caught in animal prints, fake fur, or super bright colors.

What's Your Fashion Style?

Okay, even if you're not a big fan of memes (i.e., Lisa) perhaps some of you will better understand why I was tempted to take this quiz from Girls Only - Blogthings, if I told you how I happen to think - especially if you are over the age of 40 and/or a mom - fashion sucks and I haven't a clue what I'm wearing this fall!

First, it's in. Then it's out. Although it would look better, with a chunky belt.

And viola, leggings are hip...again?

On my ten-year-old daughter, perhaps - but, then again, I don't believe my child-rearing hips should be wearing a mini-skirt, either.

Or, can I?

Silicon Valley Moms Blog recently conducted a poll and asked readers for their fall fashion questions and - although, I am sorry I missed out on all the fashion fun - Alix was able to hit all of my fashion headaches...right on the head:

It is infinitely difficult to merge fashion with child-rearing clothes. Here are my ideal criteria for this fashion black hole.

Moms NEED:

1) Sweaters that don't pill or get stretched out from holding children all day. That rules out wool and cotton, so a cotton-silk blend might work here.

2) Sets of tops that coordinate so you can strip down in a hot park and put something back on when it gets cooler. This might be specific to California's micro-climates.

3) Tops that are fitted, but not too clingy and don't have boob-baring necklines when you bend over for the 100th time to pick your child up at the park.

4) No white, ever.

5) Something with clean, modern lines that fits better than Banana Republic.

6) Fabrics and cuts that are machine-washable and that last and last, since, let's face it, when you get a good outfit going you want to wear it again and again just to skip the whole, "what shirt should I wear with these pants" thing each day.

7) Finally, style that doesn't scream "too style-ey" at the park but wouldn't call you out as a dumpy mom if you get the chance to go to dinner after putting the kids to bed.

Can a clothing manufacturer PLEASE read these criteria and get us some better child-rearing clothes!?

OMG - not to mention a hearty...HELL YES!...to #6 - but, is anybody really listening?

SVMoms Blog and a parents club visited Nordstroms for a fall fashion trend seminar and posted their results, today.

SVMoms Blog's editor, Tekla Nee, and BlogHers' very own resident mommyblogger, Mary Tsao, even got a bitchin' makeover - Mary writes:

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Last night was a lot of fun! Although I must say that my husband thought my makeover was a bit much. He prefers me a little less made up! But it was fun to try a new look.

I'm happy that denim skirts are "back" because in my wardrobe, they never left. I liked that the personal shopper (Forgot her name, but she was great! Very high energy and obviously knew her stuff.) showed us clothes from casual to dressy. There was something for everybody and every occasion.

Fun night. Thanks for the invite!

Sounds like something I wish my local Nordstroms - or any women's fashion store, for that matter - would consider and I would certainly look into attending.

Maybe even buy myself one of their top fall fashion picks for moms:

CORDUROY, VELVET AND WASHABLE SUEDE JACKETS

[img_assist|fid=1628|thumb=1|alt=teeklainjacket]
Mom friendly fall fabrics include corduroy, twill, and washable suede. Structured Jackets are great for hiding figure flaws and can be dressed up/down depending on the shirt underneath.

Velvet Jackets are also a fall trend fabric.

Tekla favored this Garnet Nine West Velvet Jacket on the left.

Looking at the velvet jacket brought to mind a picture my mother took of me, when I was ten and the same age as my second oldest daughter, wearing one of my favorite outfits - a purple velvet skirt, matching vest and brown boots, similar to the ones my co-editor (Tricia) blogged about.

But, I do believe ElleBelle's response to...ahem...old fashion styles making a comeback (like, the 80's and wearing leggings in high school) sums it up perfectly, for me:

Here is the only fashion rule you need to remember: If you wore it the first time it was popular, you can't wear it again.

Over 35? Forget the leggings.

"Skinny Jeans"? If you ever had to get horizontal on the bed, suck in your stomach and grab the zipper pull with pliers so you could shimmy into your Calvin Kleinâ€™s or Gloria Vanderbiltâ€™s.

Consider this your hall pass.

Hats off to Nordstroms for conducting the seminar, kudos to all who participated and epecially to Silicon Valley Moms Blog - thanks for asking!

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Contributing Editor Elizabeth Thompson also writes for the eZine, The Imperfect Parent.